6 key DNC delegate groups

When you add up all the superdelegates, delegates and alternates, the Democratic Party is sending somewhere in the neighborhood of 6,000 officeholders, party officials and activists to Charlotte.

The composition of the state delegation rosters looks dramatically different than those at the GOP national convention. Among the differences: Gay and lesbian activists, labor leaders, more people of color and sizable big city contingents.

Story Continued Below

Here’s a guide to some of the delegates you’ll find at the Democratic convention:

The national stars

Most of the best-known officeholders in the party will be there as superdelegates, along with some of the top 2016 prospects: Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer have all drawn mention as possible presidential candidates four years from now.

Then there are the future stars who might cut a high national profile in the years after that:, including California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio and a Texas delegate, is giving the keynote address on Tuesday night.

Big-city mayors

The nation’s biggest cities will send some of their top talent to Charlotte. Among the mayors who will be there: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who recently lost a recall election against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, fresh off hosting the GOP convention in his town, will be a delegate this time around.

Top congressional candidates and incumbents

The conventions give those with tough House and Senate races a chance to fire up their base and get in front of the media. One of the top Democratic Senate candidates is a former Democratic National Committee chairman: Tim Kaine. You can find Kaine, a former governor, in the Virginia delegation.

The Florida delegation includes Sen. Bill Nelson, whose November opponent, Rep. Connie Mack, got a speaking slot at the GOP convention in Tampa.

Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren isn’t a delegate, but she’ll be at the convention anyway as a speaker.

Labor leaders

The House of Labor is well represented in Charlotte.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders is a District of Columbia delegate while American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten will be part of the New York delegation. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is a Pennsylvania delegate and General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Jim Hoffa, son of Jimmy Hoffa, is a Michigan delegate — he’s one of three Hoffas who are Democratic delegates.